Front loader bucket has some holes in it and might need welding?

[draku007]

My front loader bucket is getting pretty thin at the end of the bottom section to the point where I'm starting to see some holes there (see attached picture - red marks). Any suggestions on how to best fix it and extend the life of the bucket (I really don't want to buy a new one anytime soon).

 

[k0ua]

My front loader bucket is getting pretty thin at the end of the bottom section to the point where I'm starting to see some holes there (see attached picture - red marks). Any suggestions on how to best fix it and extend the life of the bucket (I really don't want to buy a new one anytime soon).

View attachment 666694

What kind of welder do you have?

 

[Big Barn]

I would cut out the worn out corner (red) and weld in a flush patch and weld a full width wear strip on the underside of the bucket to preserve the buckets bottom corner width. (Yellow lines)

A 3 inch strip x 3/16or 1/4 inch thick would do.

 

[duffer]

I had the same problem as you. And Big Barn has a good solution, very similar to mine. Although I didn't cut out a section that was worn, but rather ground it down to good, bear metal, and then welded the "wear plate" to the bottom of the bucket, and finally welded shut the slot I ground down in the original bucket material. This way, it keeps you from burning a larger hole in the bucket if you get too aggressive with the weld. The newly installed wear plate acts like a backer-board for the final weld. (I'm not a professional welder and I need all the help I can get).

The bucket steel is very thin, probably only 1/8". I put an 8" deep wear plate on mine, because I back drag a ¼ mile gravel drive every 4-6 weeks to keep it smooth. Wear plate has held up nicely.

 

[k0ua]

I have found 7014 a good easy to start and run rod if you have a DC stick welder. I like to use it to fill holes. It runs like butter.

 

[Citydude]

I have found 7014 a good easy to start and run rod if you have a DC stick welder. I like to use it to fill holes. It runs like butter.

I wish I had your skills as you’ve shown some of your work. I’m an expert welder until I start a bead, then not so much.

But I do know enough to see a hole in the bucket.

 

[Citydude]

I would cut out the worn out corner (red) and weld in a flush patch and weld a full width wear strip on the underside of the bucket to preserve the buckets bottom corner width. (Yellow lines)

A 3 inch strip x 3/16or 1/4 inch thick would do.

Thanks. I will keep this repair in my memory bank. I’m still learning.

 

[Big Barn]

I’m still learning.

Like us all.

 

[k0ua]

I wish I had your skills as you’ve shown some of your work. I’m an expert welder until I start a bead, then not so much.

But I do know enough to see a hole in the bucket.

Well as they say, the first step to the solution is to acknowledge the problem.. So you are well on your way.

 

[k0ua]

Like us all.

Rgr, that. Bigtime. I have repaired some holes in some buckets, but that don't make me no expert. I am not sure I would even make a pimple on a good welders.......

 

[k0ua]

One, thing I can say about my welding skills (or lack thereof), I have learned them ALL by myself, without a bit of help from anyone........well, maybe a little from Jody on Welding tips and Tricks on you tube...

 

[Big Barn]

One, thing I can say about my welding skills (or lack thereof), I have learned them ALL by myself, without a bit of help from anyone........well, maybe a little from Jody on Welding tips and Tricks on you tube...

Same here. I have learned MORE about welding ( courtesy Jody and others) since I retired ten years ago than the entire previous 45 years of welding regularly on the farm.

True story. Sad but true. Only had a 230 AMP buzzbox. I had no clue as to what DC welding was.....

 

[Egon]

Weld a complete new sheet to the bottom of the bucket and then add some wear strips to that. Also make sure the cutting edge material is thick and not worn out. Adding some cutting-edge to the vertical sides of the bucket will also help.

 

[mikester]

My front loader bucket is getting pretty thin at the end of the bottom section to the point where I'm starting to see some holes there (see attached picture - red marks). Any suggestions on how to best fix it and extend the life of the bucket (I really don't want to buy a new one anytime soon).

View attachment 666694

Stitch weld some flat bar to fit the affected areas. I cant tell from photos what size you need, you might get away with 2,3 or 4 inch x 1/8 thick mild steel. One piece along the whole length might do it. Looks like you will be welding to Swiss cheese. Apply thick paint liberally and when you park your bucket dont let water accumulate anymore.

If the existing bucket welds and bends are corroded badly I wouldnt waste too much effort in patching. Keep an eye out for a used replacement bucket.

 

[draku007]

I’m the DYI guy who’s trying to possibly justify the cost of welding machine as part of this project. I did some welding years and years ago. Is that something an inexperienced handyman can do or should I look for some help with more experienced welder?
Where can I buy sheets of metal for such project?

 

[duffer]

I’m the DYI guy who’s trying to possibly justify the cost of welding machine as part of this project. I did some welding years and years ago. Is that something an inexperienced handyman can do or should I look for some help with more experienced welder?
Where can I buy sheets of metal for such project?

Many on the board will scoff at me for saying this, but I bought a $150 mig wire feed welder @ Harbor Freight to do my "occasional" welding needs. I don't rebuild cars, I am not a farmer with a multitude of implements and equipment that need constant repair. I have a tractor and a few hobby farm implements. Once in a great while I need to weld something. Hadn't welded since I was 18, but somehow it comes back to you. Patience is the key. (and getting the right settings on the welder for heat, wire feed speed, etc.)

I went to a local welding shop and they charge me $30 to weld 2 pieces of steel tubing together. About a 6" long weld. I went to the store and bought the welder the next day.

 

[draku007]

I don稚 have a welder yet and I知 trying to convince myself that I need one now any recommendations?

 

[k0ua]

I don稚 have a welder yet and I知 trying to convince myself that I need one now any recommendations?

Ask a dozen people and you will get maybe 20 answers. BUT I can tell you what I have. I have a DC inverter stick welder good for 160 amps. I have never found anything I couldn't fix or fab up with it. Also very very cheap to run. Sticks are versatile and are instant to change for size and purpose. A stick welder is NOT the easiest to learn on though, Everyone will recommend a MIG for the ease of learning. And yes we can argue all day about the best welder to get for your first, your second and so on and on. A good DC stick welder, can easily and economically be transformed into a TIG welder too. Sure it won't have HF start, and you will have to learn how to scratch start, but you can do the light low amperage work that you will find difficult or impossible with just stick alone. But others will say, "yeah, but I can do most of what a TIG will do with my properly set up MIG" And it is true to a point. But I can weld copper and brass with my DC stick welder and just a simple 17V TIG torch and a bottle of argon. Low cost, no drive rollers to futz with or wear out, no birds-nests ever, and all it takes to run it is skill and practice. With a DC stick welder, the results are all about YOU and NOT about the machine. Do MIG machines have their place? You bet they do. Can you learn to make pretty welds fast? You bet you can.

All three of the common processes, Stick(aka SMAW Shielded Metal Arc Welding), MIG (Metal Inert Gas) and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) have plus points and negative points. JUST like everything else in life. There is no such a thing as a free lunch, and there is no such a thing as the best welding process.

If anyone can prove me wrong, I am listening.

 

[chim]

One, thing I can say about my welding skills (or lack thereof), I have learned them ALL by myself, without a bit of help from anyone........well, maybe a little from Jody on Welding tips and Tricks on you tube...

On the inlaw's farm in the early 70's I taught myself enough to build a couple truck snow plow mounts, an 8000# winch mount and a utility trailer. Many years ago I bought a Millermatic 175 MIG and have used it with gas and fluxcore. That machine was used for a number of various projects.

It was with this machine that I built a tractor cab in late 2012. I did the build in our shop at work and had some of our certified welders give me pointers. A couple years ago I added a Hypertherm 30AIR just for fun. Early this summer I bought an Everlast Powerarc 200STi inverter welder. It hasn't seen much use so far because of the current backlog of projects that don't require welding.

 

[draku007]

Got a quote from a local welder - $1100 - $1500. New bucket costs $1000.
Shopping for a stick welder now